Ontario, CA → Iowa City, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from Ontario to Iowa City

About 1,781 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,870–$10,230, delivery in 5–10 days, 1,156 carriers on the Ontario side and 43 in Iowa City.

1,781 miroad distance
31 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,870–$10,2302-bedroom estimate

Photo: Stevat20 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Ontario, California
To: Iowa City, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,781 miles (1,510 straight-line)
Drive time: 31 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 1,156 (612 interstate)
Movers at destination: 43 (28 interstate)

Reverse: Iowa City → Ontario

Iowa City sits about 1,781 miles northeast of Ontario, which makes this an interstate relocation from California to Iowa that most movers classify as a cross-country move.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $6,870 to $10,230 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 31 hours (4 driving days).

On the Ontario side there are 1,156 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (612 of them authorized for interstate work), and 43 around Iowa City (28 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Iowa City.

Ontario has a population of about 187,013 and Iowa City about 75,000. The two cities have comparable density (3,505 and 2,904 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in Iowa than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Ontario to Iowa City

Full-service estimate for 1,781 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,750	$3,350	$4,090
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,120	$5,030	$6,140
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,870	$8,380	$10,230
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$11,000	$13,410	$16,360
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$15,120	$18,440	$22,500

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,430–$3,430

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$2,610–$3,840

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$6,870–$10,230

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Ontario, CA → Iowa City, IA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Ontario (origin)

Ldi Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1074419
MC: 446897
Based in: Pomona, CA 91768 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 140 trucks, 134 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (909) 620-7001 Route Verify on FMCSA

Total Transportation & Distribution INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1582586
MC: 609813
Based in: Rancho Cumanoga, CA 91730 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 111 trucks, 52 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (951) 801-7200 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ttl

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Total Transportation Logistics INC

USDOT: 2739945
MC: 1129944
Based in: Corona, CA 92881 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 65 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Route Verify on FMCSA

Cordova Solutions INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2376402
MC: 815769
Based in: Fontana, CA 92337 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 48 trucks, 44 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (909) 980-9089 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nk Carries INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 3799553
MC: 1379375
Based in: Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 47 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (909) 695-9506 Route Verify on FMCSA

Heritage Transport INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1782985
MC: 650038
Based in: Riverside, CA 92505 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 45 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (909) 356-1100 Route Verify on FMCSA

Scoc INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Scoc Services INC

USDOT: 3038921
MC: 60287
Based in: Fontana, CA 92335 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 42 trucks, 44 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (951) 349-0126 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sure Shot Transit Solutions LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3193098
MC: 137968
Based in: Ontario, CA 91761 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 40 trucks, 85 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (909) 584-5556 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 1,156 movers in Ontario

Near Iowa City (destination)

Adamantine Spine Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Adamantine Spine Moving INC

USDOT: 1471037
MC: 556716
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52240 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 37 trucks, 41 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (319) 325-6683 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bolton Logistics LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4766652
Based in: Solon, IA 52333 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 24 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (319) 210-4857 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bolton Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2471478
MC: 61612
Based in: Solon, IA 52333 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (319) 624-2086 Route Verify on FMCSA

Slager Appliances

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2028718
MC: 1754363
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52246 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (319) 337-3800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Asap Towing

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Iowa City Auto Sales LLC

USDOT: 1352324
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52240 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (319) 330-1629 Route Verify on FMCSA

Stannard Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 228904
MC: 166228
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52246 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1983

Call (319) 351-1552 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bee'S Transport

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Brendan Daryl Beachy

USDOT: 2821656
MC: 1068797
Based in: Kalona, IA 52247 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (319) 530-1197 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hardy Concierge Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4222688
Based in: North Liberty, IA 52317 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (319) 382-0721 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 43 movers in Iowa City

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Iowa City accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.
Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.

Near Ontario

Near Iowa City

Related routes

Other destinations from Ontario

Other origins to Iowa City

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Ontario to Iowa City?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,750 to $4,090 for a studio, $4,120 to $6,140 for a one-bedroom, $6,870 to $10,230 for a two-bedroom, $11,000 to $16,360 for a three-bedroom and $15,120 to $22,500 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Iowa City from Ontario?

About 1,781 road miles (1,510 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 31 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from California into Iowa makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Ontario to Iowa City?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,430 to $3,430 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,610 to $3,840. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Ontario–Iowa City corridor.